Phocuswright and WiT Spark Travel Innovation at Dubai Event as Middle East Tourism Surges

Next month, Phocuswright and Web in Travel (WiT) are set to return to the Middle East, spotlighting the region’s burgeoning tourism and travel technology sectors. This return is particularly timely, given the ambitious targets set by Saudi Arabia, which aims to attract 150 million tourists by 2030, and the broader regional growth that is reshaping the travel landscape.

The Middle East’s travel industry is experiencing a significant transformation, fueled by extensive investments in infrastructure and a strong push towards diversifying economies. Phocuswright’s 2024 Middle East Travel Market Report projects a robust 40% growth in the travel sector by 2027, with bookings anticipated to surge from $91 billion in 2023 to over $127 billion. This growth is largely driven by an increase in consumer demand and strategic enhancements in travel infrastructure, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which alone recorded $44.5 billion in gross bookings in 2023—a 12% increase from the previous year.

Further emphasizing the UAE’s pivotal role, a study by VIDEC Consultants values the UAE’s total air market at $3.9 billion in 2023, with expectations to reach $5.4 billion by 2028. This positions the UAE as the second-largest air market in the region, trailing only behind Saudi Arabia. The digital transformation is also evident in the online air market, which represented 34% of the total air market in 2023, with airline websites and apps accounting for 55% of this segment.

Pete Comeau, Managing Director of Phocuswright, expressed enthusiasm about the region’s potential, citing the accelerated pace of technological adoption and innovation. This dynamism sets the stage for the upcoming joint event with WiT in Dubai on April 25, which aims to delve into these transformative trends and their implications for the future.

Yeoh Siew Hoon, founder of WiT, highlighted the Middle East’s market complexity and diversity, drawing parallels to Asia. The forthcoming event aims to broaden the discussion to encompass a wider array of perspectives from key markets like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, and Egypt, acknowledging the global brands’ growing influence in these areas.

The event will reconvene at the Grand Plaza Movenpick Media City, with Accor returning as the host partner. Kerry Healy, Chief Commercial Officer for Accor in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific, emphasized the region’s role as a hotspot for travel and hospitality innovation. Accor is actively participating in this evolution, leveraging technology to enhance customer engagement and streamline the travel experience across its 280 properties in the Middle East.

Accor’s strategy includes a shift towards a multi-local approach, adapting its offerings to reflect local cultures through food, entertainment, and design, while integrating advanced digital tools like the ALL App for enhanced guest interactions. This approach not only caters to localized preferences but also ensures that Accor remains at the forefront of the digital transformation sweeping the travel industry.

As the Middle East continues to rise as a key player in the global travel market, events like WiT Phocuswright Middle East are crucial for fostering dialogue, sharing insights, and shaping the future of travel in the region. The conference will serve as a melting pot for ideas, where industry leaders can explore new possibilities and strategies to meet the evolving demands of today’s tech-savant travelers, ensuring the region’s tourism sector not only grows but thrives in the coming years.

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Phocuswright and WiT Spark Travel Innovation at Dubai Event as Middle East Tourism Surges

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